St. Nicholas Monuments in the Netherlands

St. Nicholas is found on city streets and various buildings in the Netherlands, showing his long popularity here. Click for larger images.

Amsterdam

Sinter Claes, one of the icon images in the Netherlands, is found on Dam Square. A wreath is placed below the tablet during the annual Sinterklaas arrival parade. The tablet has been on Dam Square since the 1600s. Originally identifying a house it is now on the AB-AMRO bank building.

Photo: Marten Mulder

Photo: C Myers

St. Nicholas from the Bisschop pub, now in the AB-AMBRO building on the same site.

Photos: Frank van Schie

Kaatsheuvel: Efteling

The popular family theme park Efteling features St. Nicholas at St. Nicolaas Plein (Square). Illustrator Anton Pieck designed the original park, including Nicolaas Plein, with St. Nicholas on the gate and fountain.

Photos: Otto Tewes

Haarlem

A special housing complex, the Saints Houses, was built in 1931. Each house has a relief sculpture of its own saint.

Photos: Frank van Schie

The last remnant of the Comans almshouse is seen over the former entrance. It was founded by the Comans Guild (Merchants’s Guild) in 1613. The eleven residences were in use until 1854. They were demolished in 1871.

Photos: Frank van Schie

Denekamp

The statue of St. Nicolaas with children is in front of the Heilige Nicolaas parish church.

Photo: Freddy Bakker

Deventer

Tablet on a house in the Bergkwartier distict commemorates the restoration of the quarter. The saint is shown as patron saint of merchants with three bags of gold; the secretary of the cabinet Kompé is shown as a speculaas doll. The second Bergkwartier image showing St. Nicholas with children is from the gateway into Prinsenplaats, near Walstraat.

Photos: Frank Van Schie

Nieuwveen

The Sint Nicolaas Hoeve (farm home) was built in 1858 to care for poor elderly farmhands. It is now part of a mixed-use farm that grows crops and dairy cows; the old farmhand home provides luxury accommodation for guests.

Photos: Frank Van Schie

Maastricht

This tile ensemble, 1957, shows symbols of St. Nicholas on the front of a house in Maastricht. The other end has Sinterklaas’ sack.

Photos: Frank Van Schie

Utrecht

This plaque is found on a house at Oudegracht 330. It recalls a time when Dutch houses were identified and named in this way, rather than having house numbers. So this house was “Sinterniclaes.”

Photos: Frank Van Schie

Veere

S. Nicolaes house is in Veere, in the province of Zeeland.

Photos: Marcus Vankan

Valkenswaard

This bas relief plaque is on the old city hall. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Valkenswaard.

Photos: Frank Van Schie

Valkenburg

There is a ceramic tablet of Saint Nicholas on the well across from the Church of Holy Nicholas and Barbara. The second tablet is on a house in Valkenburg.

This mosaic by Tom Franssen, 1983, is in the St Joseph te Meijel home for the elderly.

Photos: Marcus Vankan

Culemborg

On St. Nicholas Day, 1318, Culemborg received their lord city rights, including the market toll, allowing goods to be sold tax-free. The day was chosen because St. Nicholas is the patron saint of merchants; the Culemborg guild of merchants is named for him. St. Nicholas is shown in the guild’s stained glass window in the town hall and on the guild’s silver symbol..

Photo: Jan WasmusUsed be permission

Photo: Jan WasmusUsed be permission

Postcard: Jan WasmusUsed be permission

Garderen, the Veluwe

The village of Garderen hosts a Sand Sculpture Festival each year. River sand is used for these complex sculptures, as the grains are angular and hold together. This sand is brought from the Alps. In 2013 the theme was “I love Holland” and Sinterklaas was one of the sculptures.

s’-Hertogenbosch

The large painting, about 17 x 7 feet, shows Saint Nicholas as the Patron of the Butchers’ Guild. It was painted in 1789 by Quirinus van Amelsfoort. It originally hung in the Butchers Guild Hall and now hangs in the Den Bosch town hall.